The Crew has added to its defense with a trio of somewhat familiar faces.

Yesterday, the club announced that it had signed defenders Josh Williams, Waylon Francis and
Matt Wiet. Williams re-signed after ending the 2013 season out of contract, Wiet signed as the
sixth homegrown player in club history, and Francis will occupy an international roster spot.

The Crew began trying to sign Francis last offseason but could not reach an agreement. He will
officially be added to the roster after Jan. 1 upon receipt of his international transfer
certificate and visa. Francis, 23, made 65 appearances with CS Herediano in Costa Rica’s first
division.

Crew coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said the work was primarily done by previous
technical director and interim coach Brian Bliss but that he liked what he saw from Francis on
video.

“He has athleticism and endurance, and he’s a very aggressive left back and he’s young,”
Berhalter said. “It’s a guy who has potential. He’s definitely highly rated there in Costa
Rica."

Williams, 25, signed with the Crew in 2010 and has played left, center and right back after a
breakout 2012 season. He has made 57 appearances, including 52 starts, for the Crew. Berhalter said
he sees Williams as a right back or a right center back.

“I think he needs coaching and guidance, but he has tools,” Berhalter said. “We’re going to work
our hardest to get him improved to be an above-average MLS player because I think he definitely has
that in him.”

Like Francis, Wiet was a candidate to join the Crew last season. The Crew offered the
Worthington Kilbourne graduate a homegrown player contract, but he opted to return to UCLA before
signing with the Dayton Dutch Lions of the United Soccer Leagues Pro division during the summer. He
played center back for the Bruins.

Wiet underwent knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament recently, Berhalter said, and
will not be available until sometime next summer. His contract was already agreed upon when
Berhalter joined the club.

The Crew roster stands at 22 players with goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and forward/midfielder
Dominic Oduro still out of contract.